Trekking through Salcantay Mountains to Machu Picchu

In this journey you will trek from 3,900m/12,800ft to 2,100m/6,900ft, traversing across magnificent mountain passes, enjoying enormous and mystical snow-capped peaks, seeing nature in its purest form and exploring more than 15 different ecosystems from beginning to end. Moreover, the chances for ethnic and cultural exchange are ever-present with local natives who still remain closely attached to their heritage and are very willing to share it with open minds.

Itinerary

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival to Cusco

Upon arrival, reception and transfer to your Cusco Hotel; where you’ll be welcomed with coca infusion tea (“mate de coca”) that will help you to get used to the altitude – free day to take a leisurely walk around the ancient capital of the Incas or to acclimatize to the high altitude setting.

Meals Included: None

Day 2 – Cusco City Sightseeing Tour

Breakfast at the hotel; free time in the morning

After lunch at 1:30pm; Cusco tour including the Cathedral, Koricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay. Our tour will beginning on to the Main Square of Cusco. You’ll enter the Cathedral of Cusco and see the beautiful woodwork and colonial paintings containing extensive Incan iconography. Visit the Korikancha (Temple of the Sun) on which the Santo Domingo Convent was built. Legend says this temple was completely gold coated, which impressed the conquerors upon their arrival.

Ascend to the Archaeological Park of Sacsayhuaman and visit the Cuidadela. This is the royal house where they admired the Sun God but also worshiped younger gods. Admire this large structure and enjoy the magnificent landscape which brings peace and tranquility. Next, visit Qenqo, the old temple of the Puma. Inside you can see a sacrificial altar made of a huge stone. At Tambomachay, you’ll see the sacred fountains of life and health. Pucapucara safeguarded the city gates and the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman. The tour ends with a detailed visit of the city of Cusco.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 – Sacred Valley of the Incas

Breakfast at the hotel; pick up from the hotel at 8:30am for your full day tour to the impressive Sacred Valley of the Incas, explore the beautiful Peruvian countryside with a full-day tour of the magical Sacred Valley. First place, you will visit the town of Pisaq, famous for its bustling market. This native town was once where “exchange transactions” took place. In this type of transaction, customers would exchange one good for another instead of using currency. Visit the market of Pisaq where you can purchase beautifully crafted products hand-made by the locals.

On Sunday, the main attraction is a mass celebrated in Quechua and conducted in Spanish. It is attended by the mayors and their attendants who play traditional musical instruments called “pututos.”

Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a typical Peruvian lunch (included in price) before visiting the fortress of Ollantaytambo.

Next, you will visit the impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo fortress. These magnificent ancient ruins serve as great vantage points to look out over the valley. Originally the royal estate of Emperor Pachakuteq during the Inca Empire, this site later served as a stronghold for Manco Inca Yupanqui in the Inca´s final rebellion against the Spanish. In the afternoon back to Cusco – Overnight at Cusco Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4 – Cusco / Sayllapata / Soyroccocha

Breakfast at the hotel; pick up from the Hotel at 5:00am; leaving Cusco by car on the route to Sayllapata 4 ½ hrs, until arriving to Mollepata town, from where we continue on to Sayllapata (3600m/11808ft), where we meet our horsemen and horses. From this point we start the ascent on foot towards Soraypampa (3800m/12464ft), where we take the lunch; following a climbing trail to Salcantaypampa with many level variations and along which we encounter little groups of houses, hike up for around 2 hrs ascent to our camp at Soyroccocha (4200m/13776ft), just next to the impressive glacier of Salcantay. Camping

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Total distance: 8 km (4, 99 miles)

Estimated walking time: 5-6 hours

Maximum altitude point: (4200m/13776ft)

Day 5 – Soyroccocha / Collpapampa

Breakfast; we start a 1 ½ hour ascent; we reach the highest point of the trek Huayracmachay Pass (4525m/14846ft). From this point, we start descending towards into the so-called cloud forest. Then descending to the cloud forest along the route, it can see the remains of an ancient Inca path, a long easy descent along the Salcantay River; lunch at Huayracmachay (3850m/12628ft) arriving late afternoon to our second camp at Collpapampa (2890m/9479ft), a beautiful spot with some natural hot springs to relax in. Camping

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Total distance: 12 km (7, 45 miles)

Estimated walking time: 6-7 hours

Maximum altitude point: (4525m/14846ft)

Day 6 – Collpapampa / Lucmabamba

Breakfast; continue our hike with an easy downhill walk along the Sta. Teresa River, enjoying the increasingly lush vegetation, passing waterfalls, passion fruit and coffee plantations. The arid highland landscape begins to transform into a cloud forest filled with trees and bromeliads. Following the Santa Teresa River, we pass the waterfalls at Coripacchi, the settlement at Wiñaypoko then we pass from La Playa where we have our lunch and finally arrive to Lucmabamba (2100m/6888ft). Camping

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Total distance: 10 km (6, 21 miles)

Estimated walking time: 5-6 hours

Maximum altitude point: (2890m/9479ft)

Day 7 – Lucmabamba / Llactapata / Aguas Calientes

Breakfast, walk up to Llactapata (2650m/8692ft) on the way we can see plantations of banana, coffee, and avocado. We enter spectacled-bear territory and we will probably be accompanied by flocks of parrots. Start climbing for 2-3 hrs up to Q’elloqasa Pass (2860m/9381ft) from where we have an exceptional view of Machu Picchu, Salcantay and Llaqtapata archeological site, which have recently been restored; descent towards the Aobamba River crossing lush bamboo forests and more orchards brings us to the Hydroelectric (lunch) from where we board a train that take us to Aguas Calientes (40 minutes train ride).

Overnight at Aguas Calientes Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Total distance: 7 km (4, 35 miles)

Estimated walking time: 4-5 hours

Maximum altitude point: (2860m/9381ft)

Day 8 – Wiñay wayna – Visit Machu Picchu – Back to Cusco

Breakfast; we wake up at 4:00am an hour later and climb to the Inti Punku (Sun Gate) from this fabulous spot, we may see the sunrise over the sacred citadel of Machu Picchu (2400m/7872 ft). From here we descend into Machu Picchu, 40 minutes later we enter the citadel from the highest point through the “House of the Guardians”. We then descend to the control point where we register ourselves and leave our backpacks.

Upon arrival, you will participate in a guided tour of the Citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial (the most important preserved Intihuatana), the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, houses, warehouses, a large central square; and all connected by narrow roads and steps that are surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side. After the tour you’ll have time to stroll around the Archaeological Site at your leisure.

Then, you will have time to perform some of the following activity by yourself (not included in the price):

1. Climb Wayna Picchu; for the most adventurous people, we suggest to go up the Wayna Picchu from where you can appreciate the immensity of Machu Picchu, even more amazing being high and distant.

Buffet Lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge Restaurant in Machu Picchu

Train back to Cusco: In the afternoon train departure to Cusco; upon arrival to Cusco reception and transfer to the Hotel – Overnight at Cusco Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Total distance: 4 km (2, 49 miles)

Estimated walking time: 2 hours

Maximum altitude point: 2700m (8829 ft)

Day 9 – Depart Cusco

Breakfast at the hotel; transfer to the airport for departure flight to Lima

Services not included

International airfares, domestic flights

Airport departure (US$ 30 per person for international flights and US$ 6.5 for national flights) taxes or visa fees, excess baggage charges, additional nights during the trip due to flight cancellations, alcoholic beverages or bottled water, snacks, insurance of any kind, laundry, phone calls, radio calls or messages, reconfirmation of flights and items of personal nature, personal equipment, obligatory personal insurance and meals which are not mentioned, Entrance fee to Wayna Picchu Mountain, Sleeping bag, Tips for the guide, cook and porters

Flights

Domestic flights are not included in the price; you’ll need to book the following

Day 1 – Arrival to Cusco

Lima to Cusco in the morning; you can buy with Peruvian Airlines – www.peruvian.pe